A Face in the Crowd

I had some visitors yesterday, Kirstin, Fay, and Sharon.  Fay lives in LA and Kirstin and Sharon live here, but both of them are from LA.  When I was sixteen, I almost ran away to LA to be a surfer.  Not only was I baptized by the Beatles, I was also in sacramental association with early Beach Boys music.  LA was the capital of cool and Oklahoma City was a far off waste station.  I waited till I was 18 to make my pilgrimage to the Endless Summer.  All the kids were so absolutely cool, I was in awe of the culture and felt that I had reached heaven.  My social skills limited me to just one of the many numbers gathered on the golden sands.  I did see Wally from "Leave it to Beaver", buying a frozen chocolate covered banana.  I wanted so much to be a part of the scene, but I wasn’t ready.  The girls with ironed hair and the boys in their Pendleton shirts just looked past me…I was a face in the crowd…a Wanna-be.  Now I just wanna-be here…there is no Endless Summer…just forever and ever and that is where I am…and in this photo: surrounded by California Girls!